Alzheimer’s is known to be a progressive, neurodegenerative disease, most common in people over the age of 65 years, although there have also been cases of hereditary development of Alzheimer‘s disease in younger patients on rare occasions. Characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques (abnormal clusters) and neurofibrillary tangles (entwined or tangled bundles of fibers) in the brain, it is believed that these strangely misplaced proteins disrupt the chemical interaction between nerve cells, and damage the communication centers within the brain, causing them to atrophy with time.

In the earliest stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the patient will often experience memory loss, poor judgment or periods of confusion, restlessness, and/or mood swings. During this time, proteins build up and create the telltale tangles and plaques within the entorhinal cortex of the brain. This is the part, which is essential to the memory; retrieving past memories and thoughts, as well as processing new information and memories within the brain. Unfortunately, it is quite common that the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease may be misdiagnosed or overlooked simply as another step in the aging process. Quite often, it isn’t until the symptoms become painfully obvious, that a patient might be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

As the condition worsens, Alzheimer’s patients quite frequently suffer from language deterioration, problems with mathematical figures, an impaired ability to manipulate visual information, and definite or obvious difficulty in recognizing familiar faces, addresses, or general information. They can often become pointedly confused and may forget certain things that would seem almost routine to them, such as getting dressed, turning off the stove, or brushing one’s hair or teeth before leaving the house. Feelings of anger and anxiety are common during this time, and shifts in personality are not unheard of. Quite often, an Alzheimer’s patient in this stage may not even recognize close family, such as a son or a mother, and becomes very frightened or angry when they are touched.

In the middle stages of Alzheimer’s disease, the tangles and plagues move upward in the brain, soon taking over the hippocampus. This is the section of the brain, which is known for creating our more complex memories from objects or events. During this time, it usually becomes glaringly apparent that the patient is no longer safe, living without constant supervision, and many are placed in nursing homes, other dedicated care facilities or is taken in, where relatives can provide them with the support and care that they require. Due to the quickly deteriorating nature of this disease, it is highly recommended that the patient and their family members discuss future care arrangements, prior to this point, while the patient can still make sound calls of judgment.

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